Oiling and cleaning device for guns.



C. H. FOSTER.

OILING AND CLEANING DEVICE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJT. 1914.

1 1 54:, 390 Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v gfwu Q a INVENTOR 7 a7 ATTURNEYS C. H. FOSTER.

OILING AND CLEANING DEVICE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEP TJI, 1914.

' Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES COLUMBIA FLANOURAPH cc.. WASHINGTON, n. C

estate; srArEs Arrive orifice;

CHARLES H. ros'rnn, or 1VASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

oILINe AND CLEANING] DEVICE FOR' GUNS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, C ARLES H. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington, District of Golumbia,-have invented anew and useful Oiling and Cleaning Device for Guns, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention consists of a device for oiling and cleaning guns, in which the oil or similar lubricant or cleaning liquid is introduced in'the form of a spray acting against the walls of the. bore.. a It further consists of such a device which may be introduced into the bore of the gun at the breech of the same and be moved through the entire length of such bore.

It further consists of such a device having a brush or swab for removing solid impurities from the .bore.

It further consists of improved means for moving the spraying and cleaning device through the bore.

It further consists of othernovel features of construction, all. as will be hereinafter .lfully set forth.

The annex'ed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one mechanical form embodying the invention, such detail construction being but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure 1 represents a side'elevation of the entire oiling andcleaning device, illustrating the same in position to be-applied. Fig. 2 represents an axial section ofa portion of a gun with the device in operative-position. Fig. 3 represents an elevation, partly in section, of a reel for the air-hose. Fig. 4 represents an elevation of a disk or gate for closing the bore at the breech. Fig. 5 represents an elevation of thebrush or swab.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates thebarrel ofa gun, having abore 2, and a threaded breech, 3, for

the reception of the breech-block.

The oiling device comprises an oblong oilcontainer, 4, preferably of substantially eg'g shape, and having one-er more filling necks, 5,'closed-'by caps, 6. The outer end of the container has a spraying head or rose, 7, havingzperforations in iftsperiphery to di- Specification of Letters Patent. P t t -St 21, 915;- Application filed September 17, 1914. i

Serial No. 862,130.

rect itsspray radially. A pipe,"8, is secured in the inner end of the container and has a curved and foraminated portion, 9,within the container. Said pipe is secured by a coupling, 10, to a pipe-section,.l1, which is connected to one branch of the. casing of a valve, 12, having its opposite branclrconnected toa pipe-section, 13, to which is se cured a cylindrical brush. or swab, 14:, the 1 body of which consists of two semi-cylindrical sections, 15,:the joined centers of which form a central opening, 16, which fits and clamped upon the pipe-section 13, by means of spring-tongues, 17, upon one section en-,

gaging buttons or studs, 18, upon the other or disk, 23,. is

adapted to fit in the breech; of the gun and to be secured by cams, 24, or. other means-to close the breechfend of the bore of the gun, and said. gate has a central opening, 25, in which the hose has a sliding fit.

For convenient stowage and moving. of the hose, I provide a reel having a frame comprising an. arched bail, 29, having a handle, and two legs, 30, having feet, 31, and oblique braces, 32, having rollers, 33,-jour naled in their ends. The reel, proper, has a tubular axial hub, 34:, and-heads, 35, having radially projecting spokes, 36, and connected by rungs, 37, which form the drumof the reel uponwhich the hose is wound. One

head ofthe reel has an axially: projecting 'of the frame, and said trunnion, has a large diameter axial bore, 1 1, theiriner end of which communicates with the interior of the hubthrough a smaller bore,: t5=. -An airpipe, 46-, has an enlarged head, 47, at its end, formed with a port, 48,.registeringwith the bore-leading into. the interion of the hub,

and said. enlargement is located 1 within. the

large bore and has a packing, 49, surrounding its inner portion. A tubular follower, 50, has its inner end bearing against said packing and has a shoulder, V51, bearing against the outer end of the head and a ballrace in its outer end having anti-friction balls, 52. A cap, 53, is screwed upon the outer end of the trunnion and bears against said balls and through them against the follower. The air-pipe is coupled to a hose, 26, having its other end coupled to one of two branches, 27, having valves, 28, of an air conduit, 54L.

In practice, the apparatus and reel are placed near the breech-end of the gun, and

' the air-hose of the reel is coupled to the sup ply. The container is filled with oil or whatever lubricating or cleaning liquid is to be used, whereupon the container is inserted through the breech into the bore of the gun. The brush or swab is inserted and the gate is secured in the breech. YVhen air under pressure is admitted through the hose and pipe-connections, controlled by the valve upon the same, it passes through the curved and foraminated pipe into the container, forcing liquid and air through the rose in a radial spray against the walls of the bore. The air passing through the inclined nozzle fills the space between the brush and the gate in the breech and forces the brush and container toward the nozzle of the gun, lubricating the bore and softening the sediment, such as residue of powder or other matter adhcringto the bore, which will be removed. and carried out by the brush or swab, the periphery of which may be covered with bristles, felt or similar covering.

hen it is desired to positively move the container and spray and the brush, the gate may be omitted and the brush and container pushed through the bore by means of rods or bars or any other suitable means. In either case whether the device is moved by air or otherwise, the brush acts as a support and guide for the spraying device.

The hose has preferably numerals marked upon it to indicate predetermined units of measure, so that the position of the container and spray and of the brush or swab within the bore of the gun can be ascertained at the breech-opening of the latter.

The apparatus can be easily moved from one gun to another, and as the air-hose is coupled to one branch of the air-supply. the other branch will be accessible to attach other apparatus using compressed air from taps in an air-supply system now in general use in modern vessels and, particularly, in

war-vessels.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the mechanism thus dis closed, provided the principles of constructers Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, a liquid-container having a spraying head at one end, a conduit for air under pressure entering the opposite end of such container,

and means for supporting and longitudinally moving and guiding such container within the bore of a gun.

2. In a device of the character stated, a liquid-container having a spraying nozzle at one end formed with apertures in its periphery, a conduit for air and having a curved and perforated portion within said container, and means for supporting and guiding such container within the bore of the gun. 7

In a device of the character stated, a liquid-container havinga spraying nozzle at one end, an air-pipe connected to the other end of said container, a cylindrical brush upon said pipe to the rear of said container and adapted to slidably fit in the bore of a gun, and an air-conduit connected to said air-pipe.

4. In a device of the character stated, a liquid container having a spraying nozzle, an air-pipe connected to said container, a brush having a slidable fit in the bore of the gun and secured upon said air-pipe to the rear of said container, an airconduit connected to the air-pipe and provided with an outlet to the rear of said brush, and a gate adapted to be secured in the breech of the gun to close the same and having the air-conduit passing through it.

5. In a device of the character stated, a liquid container having at one end a spraying head formed with peripheralperforations adapted to throw radial jets, and an air-pipe entering the other end of the conconduit passing through it, and means for locking said gate within said breech.

7. In a device of the character stated, a liquid container having a spraying head at one end and adapted to introduce lubrication in the form of a spray against the walls of the bore, a conduit for air entering the opposite end of said container, and a brush having a sliding fit in the bore of the gun through which said air conduit passes, said having its free end perforated and termiair conduit passing through said brush and.

nating Within said container.

8. 1n a device of thecharacter stated, a liquid container having a spraving nozzle at one end, an air-pipe opening into the other end of said container, a brush upon such pipe and slidable in the bore of the gun, a gate adapted to close the breech of the gun,

and an air-conduit slidable in said gate and 1) CHARLES H. FOSTER.

Vitnesses:

H. P. TORREY, H. D. MACLACHLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

